As I mention on the other thread after a few listens I am mostly positive in my reactions to the new songs. I think it's a mistake to try and judge the whole LP by 4 , short songs. Especially considering the producer of the lp, tends to leave his mark
That being said, as songs I liked them. You can certainly work out the lyrics and the singing and the singing style and basic melody (though you have to remember Art hounds and Crashing Bores were almost mortally injured in the studio)
I adore I live In Oblivion and really liked Rebels Without Applause, one a remarkable unflinching look at old age, and it seems Alzheimer's and the horrific way old people are treated like children, men that were strong and lived life at full speed are reduced to nothing and are offered no respect, often treated like babies
A remarkable subject for a pop song and a reminder of why M is so needed. While Marr, for instance, and his rock mates deal in outdated rock language and hippy spirituality M grabs at real life
This song was like an angrier version of some of Cherry Ghosts' songs (they are a fellow Manchester band)
The other song Rebels With.. is a love letter to music and the bands he loved and how sadly they have all but gone.
I liked the other two songs as well.
Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings, is, on the one hand, M doing his, nobody contacts him unless its for money routine- could he also be attacking vermin charity callers who ask for money? He comments (to them) " tell the children they are in hell now" could mean Manchester victims, or whatever (though could be about all sorts ).
This leads us to the title track, Bonfire - which is the second lp title track in a row that is, to me, one of the weaker songs.
Much like Dog On A Chain, I understand completely where he's coming from and relate and agree in a number of ways but much like that song one gets the impression M has become quite a shallow and empty person, who is blinded by ego, anger and reduced by bitterness, in art if not in life
To me he spends most of the song being sarcastic to the coping choices of the families and onlookers. Not the most enlightened approach.
Its amusing to me he seems riddled with jealousy that Manchester picked an Oasis song, as their song of choice to help them heal. Liam G also got involved to try and help, to much praise .
I expect M wanted so dearly There Is A Light to be the song of choice -remember this is someone who tried to have Paris reissued to go along with the Paris killings
For people not from England, you need to know M didn't do ONE thing to help, after the bombing, as far as I know. Unlike Liam and the Queen (the woman was about 94 at the time). Morrissey isn't the most heroic person and you just know he would be scared to death to be so scathing about the "Don't look back in anger" thing, in front of Liam. M is a man who is very cutting about people, once they have left the room
His comments about the Manchester bombing being the UK's 9/11 are way off ( as i mentioned 9/11 was USA's first homeland attack, the UK has had many such attacks, including IRA bombings and nightly air raids by the Germans)
As an English person, his attacking the NHS is a bit much, this seemed to start after his mum died. It's a bit much, as he is loaded and rich, he could have paid for his mum's medical bills and gone private, why didn't he?
That said, I love the NHS and what it stands for, but it's not perfect and one should be able to cast a comment - why he mentioned the NHS to a room full of yanks, I do not know- they probably thought he was on about a Hockey league
I hope people do not think I'm attacking M, I'm not really. I love the guy. I'm going to 4 nights in Vegas, I just get disappointed when he doesn't quite reach the standards he once did, in regard to his views. As I say my thought in general of the new songs is positive.
In fact its only Bonifre that leaves a bad taste and that isn't "bad"
I was so impressed by I live In Oblivion, I forgive the more negative stuff, anyway. Looking forward to hearing more
